Christian Photographers Community

Just when she thought that her difficulties were behind her and that favour had come her way, it all goes horribly wrong again for this poor woman.

I told you before that I had stopped saying 'things cannot get any worse!' It is a foolish statement to make and one that I doubt you will ever hear coming from my lips again.

Mr Spurgeon when trying to describe the pain he was enduring with gout said,' can you imagine what it would be like if someone put your foot in a vice and tightened it as hard as they possibly could?' 'Well gout is worse than that because someone even stronger comes along and tightens the vice even more!'

The relief that the woman received when she realised God's wonderful provision for her would have been immense. No longer the thought of a last meal with her son, rather the hope of new horizons and a fresh start.

When a trial comes to an end for the child of God there is thankfulness and rejoicing in the heart. They have managed to persevere. God has heard their cries from the depths and He has answered them with a great deliverance.

The battered soul revels in peace a quiet. Stress can be felt ebbing slowly away and a lighter spirit takes up the void. Silently, 'long may this last' is sighed from the once stricken soul.

Though battered and bruised they have proved to be valiant and come through the fire and water intact. Ready to fight another day, yet hoping that that day may be a long way in the future.

Illness can come upon us without warning and at the most inconvenient times. Parents would rather suffer them selves than watch their children suffer.

The boy was so sick that even his breath had faded away. Many of us have watched as loved ones have slipped silently from time into eternity, their breath getting shallower and shallower.

A heartbreaking sight for anyone, even more so for the mother watching her only child slip from her grasp.

'Oft we shrink from the purging and pruning
Forgetting the husbandman knows
That the deeper the cutting and pairing
The richer the cluster grows.'

There is a reason and purpose accompanying all of God's dealings with His children. Perhaps if we heartily accepted that He has brought us once more into His classroom we might not feel the heat as much as we do.

There is no doubt that if we were more willing to learn the lessons that God has prepared for us, the sooner we would be conformed to His image. I preach to myself more than to anyone else!

There is so much passion, certainty and relief in this woman's statement to Elijah. She had wanted to believe him from the moment they first met, but something held her back.

Oh! The number of times that I so dearly wanted to trust my Lord yet for some strange reason I would not let go of my problems and cares. Somehow I would handle them better if I had a little control of them.

What a foolish man I am!

One of McCheyne's prayers was, 'Lord make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be.' What greater desire can we have than to reflect the image of our Saviour in this world?

To be like Christ is an all-consuming passion in my life today. How far short I fall!

This morning I thought back to a previous generation of saints. A generation renown for both spiritual gifts and a holy demeanour. Was it the way they walked to church through the village with their heads down that made them Christians?

Was it the dark clothes they wore? Was it the stern rebukes they gave to any who strayed or was it their chant-like prayers? There is no doubt there was a time in my experience when these things impressed me.

There are a handful of men that I truly admire in this world in which we live and none of them conform to the images related in the above paragraph. No, these men are different. They are a class above the norm and they all have certain traits in common.

They have all suffered.

They have each known the loss of loved ones. They are men given to prayer with a devotion that many would class as being fanatical.

They have learned through experience to lean heavily upon the Master and are at their happiest when seated at His feet. They love with an unconditional heart. They pray for their enemies.

They listen not to gossip, preferring to speak the truth in love. They are not faultfinders. They give and hold nothing back. They do not seek reward. They have 'laughing eyes' and a welcoming embrace. Their faces shine! They live and work in the shadows, spreading Light in dark places.

I have been fortunate to have met these men, of whom I can say that this world is not worthy. The woman could have spoken the same words to these men. I am not talking about people living 5000 years ago; I am talking about men living in the year 2003!

It is possible to be able to reflect the image of Christ in this world, and my prayer today is that some day I will reflect the Master's image in my own life. I feel that I am a million miles away from that type of character, but my poverty does not prevent me from seeking it.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

9a.m.

Praise God...A trial has come to an end for Christopher....
an apt Devotional Iain..Thanks again!

Chris has heard this morning that he has got the job with the Inland Revenue.......

PERFECT TIMING...


Thanks for prayers dear Brothers and sisters...also Chris sends his thanks.

Will post up in Prayers later...off to the dentist now....

Oh by the way it was Carol's birthday yesterday re Calendar  ....

                      BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
                             
                                 CAROL



Love in Jesus' Name.
Jenny.

Good morning all 10.30 AM Dutch time
Thanks Iain for your words
First i will say thank you to all who have said such
lovely words to me yesterday. That give me power to
fight.
Larry what a nice hymn yesterday.
Janet i have read that you have glaucoma on your eyes
must you have an operation on your eyes.
God bless you Janet i will pray for you.
You also have said such lovely words to me yesterday
thank you Janet.
Jenny i am glad for you and Chris that he have found
work thanks God for that.
And Jenny do you have had problems by the dentist?
I hate going to the dentist i don't like that
Ruth Ann how are you how is your blood pressure
i pray also for you Ruth Ann.
Where is every own i am missing Kathy Mieka Etta Sue
Pat when you are home thank God that you are coming
safely home. I hope you have had a very nice time.
I have missed you and i thank more people.
But Iain was very good. Thanks Iain for all the words
you have writen yo us.
The text who is standing on the beginning of the website
1 Joh. 4:11   If God so loved us, whe ought also to another.
That is what i would say yesterday. Thanks thanks for
all your lovely words.
I hope you all have a good day God is with you all
love RIA

Hi everyone.  First of all, Happy Birthday, Carol.

Jenny, what wonderful news that your son has gotten the job as know that is a big relief for you both.  When does he begin his work?  

Ria, we all are missing our travelers and those we haven't heard from for several days.  Hopefully they will be back with us soon.  Hope your back is continuing to feel better.

Iain, another fine devotional today.  God is certainly blessing you and us through your spirit filled writing.

Karma, hope you all have a great couple of days in Gatlinburg.  I expect there will still be a lot of people there, although many of the schools are now back in session.  At least that is the case here in Georgia.


Papa John, it sounds like you just worked your little printer to death.  Fortunately, new printers are not too expensive anymore, just the ink.

Pinkie, glad you were able to hear the hymn.  For some reason on my computer some of the hymns default to the windows Media Player and others to the Real One player, which doesn't do such a great job.  I would take that one off my computer but I need it to hear the Moody Bible Institutes radio broadcast each afternoon and that works well.

Hope everyone has a great day.  Hope that Pat and Judy make it home today and that Etta Sue is back soon.

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Sorry that I am a day late. I hope your birthday was a very blessed day for you.

Thanks Larry my back is allright a little bit pain
but ican take care it. i must do my exercises and that is helping me but i must lying on the soil and the sil is not soft.



Jenny thanks for your mail but what a great problem you now have with your daughter. O dear Jenny
i pray for you hufs and blessings

Good Morning to every one. Iain another wonderful devotional from you this morning. You are such a blessing to this web site. Thank you for joining us here dear brother.

The fog rolled in last night while I was at bible study. and is still  here this morning. It seems like I am having to wash my car just about every other day to keep it looking decent. That's what I get for having a black car I guess.

I will be back later, need to check my email and get ready for  work.

Pat, Judy, Etta Sue if you made it home and will be looking in today. Praise the Lord and a big WELCOME HOME

Marilyn

I had problems with my computer i was no more loggedin this afternoon but now everything is allright
I had clean up my computer and what is happenen i
don"t know i have send a e-mail to Jenny but she said
aks Marilyn but every thing is allright Marilyn
But Jenny tell me about her daughter She Have
problems  Helen her daughter must have a brain scan

she is losing her site I pray for you and your daughter Jenny

Oh how I thank our Father for Christopher's job!  How is his physical condition?  Our Lord is ABLE!!

5.35 p.m.

Dear Pastor Al.

Thanks for your prayers and wishes re Chris' helath.
He is eating a bit better now but has lost lots of weight...However with this lift to his spirits I am sure he will thrive...

Dear Ria was in touch with me earlier but I was a bit rushed....I had just heard that my daughter isn't well and is to have a brain scan. Sorry I couldn't say much to you Ria...Will write later.

Helen is losing her sight and as she has hypoglycaemia it is such a worry....she is also having trouble with her back...The doctors say that the pains can be due to the high doses of steroids she's always taken  for chronic asthma. She has never been very strong but she is such a bubbly personality and so brave.

I am believing for a miracle.  This is just a counter attack by the enemy. He doesn 't like the fact that I am able to praise God again.......OH WELL BACK TO PSALMS  THERE IS AN ANSWER IN THERE.....THIS IS REALLY HELPING ME PASTOR AL.

"I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you".........Thank-you Lord Jesus!  
                                 
"I need Thee every hour, every hour I need Thee, Please help me now My Saviour I come to Thee"

Hmmm........I expected to see a post from Pat by now!  Well, when you do get here, Pat....WELCOME HOME!!!  You were missed!  You, too, Judy and Etta Sue!

I have a class coming in a few minutes, so will make this brief.  Glad to hear of Chris' job, Jenny, and will continue praying for you, Chris, and your daughter.  What a time of testing you are enduring.

I went and helped Darrel on a job this morning.  We are pulling wire at the new high school gymnasium.  It's a multi-million dollar addition, very fancy.  But the kids are not getting as good an education as they got years back!  It isn't the buildings that make the difference!

I must go turn on the AC in the studio, so my ladies won't melt!  Talk more later!

I am checking in to see if the Calgary visitors are back home.

Iain:  Interesting devotion and I second your thoughts about not saying "things can't get worse" as yes, they certainly can get worse.  I do hope that you are getting some relief from back pain.

Jenny:  How terrific to hear that your Chris has been offered a new job.  And, now for your daughter, Helen - we will pray for her healing.  

Ria:  It is nice to see your post this morning.

Larry:  Thanks for your good wishes.  This is the year I qualify for free money for doing nothing - Social Security.  I can't imagine what that will be like.  

Marilyn:  It is today, thanks so very much.  You are such a busy gal.  

Carol

HI all

Iain Thanks again for a good word.

Ken

Welcome Ken...I didn't see you when you first got here!  Glad you joined us!  

This is for Marilyn  

The new librarian decided that instead of checking out
children's books by writing the names of borrowers on the
book cards herself, she would have the youngsters sign
their own names. She would then tell them they were
signing a "Contract" for returning the books on time.

Her first customer was a second grader, who looked
surprised to see a new librarian. He brought four books to
the desk and shoved them across to the librarian, giving
her his name as he did so.

The librarian pushed the books back and told him to sign
them out. The boy laboriously printed his name on each
book card and then handed them to her with a look of utter
disgust.

Before the librarian could even start her speech he said,
scornfully, "That other librarian we had could write."

11.p.m.

Pinkie...Thankyou.  I popped back in for a few minutes and I am glad because it is so nice to end this day with a little chuckle...

My friend is a librarian.  I will have to tell her this one...

Pat, are you back yet.  I have missed you.

                   WELCOME HOME

Love to all.
Good night, God bless, Sleep tight,
Jenny.

+Hi Pinkie: Thanks for the joke. I am not a librarian anymore I am back to being a Home Health Aide, work that I love doing.

I have about 1 1/2 hours before I have to be at class so I am checking in now because later I won't be turning on the computer.

Had a good day at work today. I love the place in the forest where she lives. So beautiful, I will be taking some photos, but since I have to start a new roll it will be awhile before it gets developed.

I stopped at Subway onthe way home and picked up a Veggie Delight. Then stopped at the Farmers Market and got some Lemon cucumbers to try and so golden cherry tomatoes. I haven't tried the cukes yet. They are new to me. Shaped like lemons.

See y-all tomorrow.

STILL no Pat???

We have had a really busy day, I have been working since 7 this morning, so I am about ready to turn off this machine and lie down and read a while!

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to dear Carol!  I hope your Social Security check is much larger than mine!

See you good people tomorrow!

Seems like I have to apologize yet again.  Carol, I'm sorry my wishes for your birthday came so late, but they're no less sincere.  

I've received email that Etta Sue and Iva Lou are home, happy and tired.  I'm sure tomorrow will bring lots of news and pictures.   I think Pat, Judy and Norm are also home by now and we'll probably hear from them tomorrow, too.  Sure seems like they've been gone a loooooong time, doesn't it?  

Only 1/2 day left of my full week - we close at noon tomorrow and what a relief that will be.  The hardest part of it all has been that I haven't really had much to do, which makes the day just drag.  You'd think in that case I wouldn't be that tired, but...  do you think it could be my age?   NAH!    Anyway, I'll be soon off to bed.  (I can hear it calling now!   )

Iain, your devotional was thought provoking as usual.  Probably this person would not be able to meet the standards set by many Christians.  I have always felt that Jesus simply wants us to be happy in our present state and try to be a quiet blessing to others.  Not to strive for perfection....simply to do our best!

There is great comfort to know that other Christians pray for us....and great comfort in praying for other Christians.  I try not to dwell on my own imperfections.  Simply try to make each day the best possible and trust that God will accept my efforts.  That is what is so comforting about knowing that if we make a mistake, the Lord understands and forgives.  We do not have to continue feeling at fault.

At the moment, I am simply trying to live within my own physical limitations, knowing that if one day is bad....a good one is just around the corner.  It took a lot of strength to convince Al that even though he will soon leave us, he should not dwell on that day...instead should live each day with enthusiasm and  try to  help others to do the same.  Seems to have worked .  He is no longer sad and is certainly grateful to God for each new day!

I am off to the kids for a few days and hope that my body is feeling more pleasant as Wendy needs 'happy' not sad.  So will, as always, trust in God to make this humble Christian a blessing to those I love.  

Hopefully, my poor efforts are not a detriment to other more eloquent folks.  Mine is just a simple Baptist faith.  God Bless, Liz.  

I am back.....bleary-eyed but back.

What a mess in my email....I think I received everything 4-5 times each...all the spam as well as personal emails.  I ran Norton and had a virus that Norton repaired.  Also probably quarantined 50 emails that Norton caught with virus'.  But my emails are all caught up.

But I am sorry to say that I came to todays NEM instead of reading all the past days.  So I want to thank all the newcomers for coming to CP and welcome them with open arms.  Happy birthday to all who had birthdays.  Also my sympathy to those who lost loved ones...even the 4-legged ones.  

Ali has cried soooooo much that she sounds funny.  She is finally quiet now.  I think she knows I am not going to leave again.  In fact, she is finally out of my sight.  

Will talk more tomorrow maybe.  I am going to see Jerry tomorrow.  Too tired tonight.  Plus I still have snail mail to go through.

God Bless All of You!!!!!

Hi Etta Sue!  (And Everyone!)

We got in this evening and I've also got a huge mess in my email due to the power outage.  I have duplicates of nearly ever email.  There were nearly 700!!!

Anyway, must get some shuteye!  Travelled over 6500 km since leaving home!